At least two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during a counterterrorism operation in the West Bank, as the Israeli military continued its offensive in the region.
The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry reported that Osama Omar Abu al-Haija, 25, was killed late on Tuesday in Jenin, reportedly due to an Israeli airstrike. No immediate confirmation from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was provided. The operation, which has been ongoing for eight days in Jenin, targets Palestinian terror groups.
Shortly after midnight, the health ministry also announced the death of Ayman Fadi Qasim Naji, 23, who was shot by Israeli forces in Tulkarem. The IDF did not provide a comment on the incident.
The ongoing operation, called Operation Iron Wall, has expanded from Jenin to Tulkarem, with the IDF claiming to have killed 18 gunmen and detained over 60 individuals. During the last two days, more than 100 explosive devices have been neutralized in Jenin, with additional bombs found and disposed of in Tulkarem.
In an operation overnight, the IDF demolished the home of Tamer Faqha, a Palestinian terrorist involved in a deadly shooting of an Israeli reservist. Israel follows a policy of demolishing homes of Palestinians linked to fatal attacks.
During a visit to Jenin on Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the IDF would remain in the refugee camp after the operation concludes to prevent the resurgence of terrorism. Katz also warned the Palestinian Authority to cease funding terrorists and the families of those involved in attacks, calling the practice of stipends to terrorist families a “pay-for-slay” policy that incentivizes violence. He stressed that the PA must fight terrorism more effectively to ensure its survival.
The West Bank has experienced escalating violence since Hamas’s October 7 attack, with over 800 Palestinians reported killed, many of them gunmen involved in battle during Israeli raids.